Carluccios shares soared 44% after the Italian restaurant chain said it agreed to be taken over Landmark group, a Dubai-based retail firm, for £90.3m.

The deal valued Carluccios shares at 142p in cash, sending the stock 43p higher to to 138.6p.

London restaurant entrepreneur Richard Caring is the company's largest shareholder with a 12% stake. Caring, who has also owned the Strada and Belgo chains, as well as Annabel's club in London, ranked number 146 on the 2009 Sunday Times Rich List, with a fortune in excess of £350m.

David Bernstein, Carluccio's Senior Independent Director said in a statement: "The Offer from C1 represents an excellent opportunity for all those involved with Carluccio's. For our Shareholders, it represents an attractive premium, in cash, at a time of continued macro-economic uncertainty. For our employees, it represents the opportunity to benefit from belonging to an international organisation of enlarged scale and breadth. Our customers will, however, see no change in our focus on quality, value, authenticity and the highest standards of service."